If you have paid much attention to the fly fishing industry in the past twenty years you know that new products come out every year to solve the problems presented by nature, fish and human error.
Although we stand behind every product we sell, there are some products that we feel stand above the rest. The staff here at the Yellowstone Angler has selected the following products based on things like durability, performance, value and superior design. If you want to know what our favorites are, keep reading about the products listed on this page.
$595-$655
These rods are the finest new design from Winston in years!
Lightweight rods with great power, yet enough delicacy in the tip for accurate short casts and for protecting light tippets.
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$515-$615
This is Sage's newest design in fast action rods, and they get our vote as Sage's best new product in years.
Sage's new XP rods were a huge hit in 2000, in 2001 they added several new rods to the line-up. This is Sage's newest design in fast action rods, and they get our vote as Sage's best new product in years. They are very light in actual weight, but more importantly, the slim blank profile and lightweight guides make the rod feel very light in the hand. They generate lots of line speed and will cast long distances with little effort, but they are also very smooth at shorter distances. We have found that many rods will handle two line sizes very effectively. Despite what Sage says, some anglers will want to shift up to the larger line size to get the rod to load more easily at shorter distances. We have indicated our line size choices in the tables linked above, or scroll down for George's complete review of the XP rods.
Prices Starting at $4.95
George has designed several leader formulas to meet a variety of fishing situations in both fresh and salt water. Once you try our hand-tied leaders and experience the accuracy and positive turnover they provide, you won't go back to those wimpy knotless leaders ever again.
Simms Guide Weight Gore-Tex Waders These have been a big hit since their introduction. There are plenty of breathable waders available now, but nothing beats Gore-Tex for both comfort and durability. I ran a head to head test myself this past July on the Beaverhead with the new Simms guide model wader and another brand of "breathable" waders. After two days of switching back and forth, there was no question that the new Simms 5 layer design was far more breathable and extremely comfortable. This is the only wader I've ever worn that is comfortable if you are wearing a pair of shorts underneath!
George Anderson
Battenkill reels are backed by the Orvis 100% Guarantee of satisfaction.-- The frame and spool are made from highly corrosion-resistant cast aluminum with a baked enamel finish that will last for years—far longer than any other reel in this price range. --The internal working parts are made of anodized aluminum, stainless steel, and brass for complete corrosion resistance even in saltwater. --Bronze bushings on the spools eliminate distortion at high revolutions and maintain smooth operation. --Change from right- to left-hand wind in seconds with no tools and no sacrifice in drag efficiency. --Trout to tarpon—Battenkill reels can do it all with twice the strength and half the price of any comparable reel on the market today. --Up to 10X more drag surface than competitive reel models --Orvis patented Leader-Loc™ design. --The Battenkill reel comes with a Cordura® case.
The company that invented fluorocarbon now introduces the world's strongest fluorocarbon. In a side-by-side tensile strength comparison, Grand Max tested up to twice as strong as other leading brands. The refractive index (a measure of visibility) was actually lower than competitive brands, which means that it is even less visible in water. It is not stiff and kinky like other leader materials and memory is relatively low. Also of note is the exceptional knot strength and it is exceptionally abrasion-resistant. It is perfect for fishing around rocks, bridges, over wrecks, reefs or other structures.
